top of page
Writer's pictureIV Therapy Academy
Mar 9, 20236 min read

The Best IV Therapy for Athletes

Updated: Dec 3

What makes an athlete go from great to the G.O.A.T.?


Intense, targeted workouts specific to your sport are key. However, an athlete’s progression stalls without optimal nutrition and hydration. Finding the best way to hydrate is vital for the elite athlete and the weekend warrior.


IV therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective method for athletes seeking to enhance their performance and recovery. This treatment provides rapid rehydration, which is crucial for athletes who lose significant fluids during intense workouts.


Additionally, IV therapy delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, helping to reduce muscle fatigue and accelerate recovery times. By replenishing vital electrolytes and nutrients like magnesium and vitamins, athletes can experience improved endurance and quicker bounce-back after strenuous activities. Overall, IV therapy offers a powerful tool for athletes to maintain peak performance and optimize their training regimens.


Weight lifter Athletes

Top 10 IV Therapy Infusions for Athletes


Intravenous (IV) therapy offers athletes a means to enhance their performance and expedite recovery by replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes due to perspiration. Additionally, the therapy delivers supplements targeting muscle soreness, cramping, and fatigue, thereby optimizing athletic prowess.


Here are the top 10 IV therapies for athletic performance and recovery:


1. Saline Solutions/Lactated Ringers


Sterile water and salt (sodium chloride) is the main base for rapid rehydration. It is necessary to lubricate the joints and muscles used during a workout. Practitioners may also use a fluid called Lactated Ringers’ to help replenish fluids and flush out toxins. Both liquids are in one-liter bags and carry the essential additives into the bloodstream.


2. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 boosts the red blood cells that carry the oxygen in the blood. Oxygen is vital for enhanced performance. B12 prevents anemia and maintains the health of the nervous system.

3. Vitamin C


Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) boosts immunity, which can limit an athlete. Vitamin C also does the following:

  • Battles fatigue

  • Decreases inflammation

  • Increases bone health

  • Promotes muscle growth

  • Repairs cells


Vitamin C infusions kickstart a rapid recovery after a workout.

4. Magnesium


Magnesium is the chief player in improving blood circulation, essential for getting oxygen to vital organs. This mineral also enhances muscle relaxation, which is crucial after a competition.

5. Amino Acids


Three amino acids (arginine, citruline, and ornathine) work together to make an effective additive to improve metabolism. This trio increases lean muscle mass, which enhances athletes' speed and strength.

6. NAD+


Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) increases endurance by converting glucose and fatty acids into energy. NAD kickstarts energy before a race or replenishes it after a big workout.

7. Zinc


Zinc promotes healing and reduces inflammation, which may occur after exercise. Zinc also helps fight off bacteria and viruses to keep an athlete healthy for the next session.

8. Taurine


This supplement relieves the painful and annoying cramps associated with exercise. Adding this to an athlete's IV cocktail will reduce fatigue and muscle soreness.

9. Glutathione


Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in the body. Its function is to create and enhance new tissue development. Glutathione also improves the sleep quality necessary for complete muscle recovery.

10. Vitamin B complex


With this mixture, an athlete’s energy and stamina will skyrocket. B2, folic acid, and riboflavin make up the complex. It functions to aid in energy production and essential tissue repair.


Importance of Incorporating IV Infusion in Athletic Protocols


After an intense workout, athletes can quickly experience moderate dehydration. A person may lose up to one to two liters of fluid per hour through sweat and more with increased temperatures.


Dehydration can cause the following:


  • Anxiety

  • Confusion

  • Digestive issues

  • Injuries

  • Loss of coordination

  • Muscle cramping from loss of electrolytes


These symptoms can impede an athlete's recovery. Dehydration may also derail a training schedule if an injury occurs. An athlete can only perform optimally with the appropriate level of electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins. The hydration balance is essential to winning games.


Drinking water or sports drinks to offset dehydration may not be enough to reestablish a healthy fluid status. The stomach can only absorb a limited amount of liquids before nausea occurs. Necessary electrolytes and vitamins are also only partially absorbed in the stomach. Relying only on drinks for rehydration may be a mistake.


IV Therapy can reset an athlete's body for optimal recovery. Since the stomach and digestive tract limit the absorption of many vitamins, fluids with critical electrolytes infusing directly into the bloodstream will replenish an athlete quickly. The higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals flooding the bloodstream will reach the cells much faster.


IV hydration has played a role in medical tents at marathons and elite Ironman events for decades. The ‘Myers Cocktail,’ an IV therapy infusion developed by Dr. John Myers, is the gold standard for essential IV therapy.


Myers Cocktail for Athletes


Myers Cocktail IV therapy offers a range of benefits for athletes looking to enhance their performance and recovery. The nutrient-dense solution delivers a potent blend of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids directly into the bloodstream, providing rapid rehydration and replenishment of essential nutrients lost during intense workouts. By boosting energy levels, reducing inflammation, and supporting muscle recovery, Myers Cocktail can help athletes train harder, recover faster, and perform at their best.


Athletes can use Dr. Myer’s basic IV therapy before a competition to optimize performance or after an intense workout for rapid recovery. Exercise enthusiasts have many other options for the best IV infusion types for their specific needs.


Benefits of IV Therapy for Athletes


IV therapy has emerged as a popular recovery method among athletes, offering numerous benefits that enhance performance and facilitate quicker recovery. Here are some key advantages:

  • Rapid Rehydration: IV therapy provides immediate hydration by delivering fluids and electrolytes directly into the bloodstream, which is crucial for athletes who can lose significant amounts of fluids through sweat during intense workouts. This quick replenishment helps maintain optimal performance levels.

  • Nutrient Infusion: By administering essential vitamins and minerals directly via IV, athletes can bypass the digestive system, ensuring nearly 100% absorption. Nutrients such as vitamin B12, vitamin C, and magnesium support energy production, reduce fatigue, and promote muscle recovery.

  • Reduced Muscle Recovery Time: IV therapy can help decrease inflammation and muscle soreness after strenuous activities. The infusion of anti-inflammatory agents and amino acids aids in repairing micro-tears in muscles, allowing athletes to return to training more swiftly.

  • Improved Endurance and Performance: With the right combination of fluids and nutrients, IV therapy can enhance an athlete's endurance and overall performance. This is particularly beneficial before competitions or intense training sessions, as it prepares the body to perform at its peak.

  • Enhanced Immune Function: Intense training can suppress the immune system, making athletes more susceptible to illness. IV therapy can bolster immune function through the infusion of vitamins and antioxidants, helping athletes stay healthy and ready to compete.


Overall, IV therapy serves as a powerful tool for athletes, providing a competitive edge by optimizing hydration, nutrient intake, and recovery processes.


Football Athletes

Athletes may experience a rapid recovery after IV therapy. As an IV Therapy provider, you can be essential to their success.


Although people have been using IV therapy for decades, it can cause adverse reactions. You will want to ensure that the athlete's safety is ensured by appropriate screening and monitoring. Educating your clients on the latest guidelines for therapy that will enhance their performance is also part of IV Therapy. Establishing IV infusion protocols is crucial to provide a safe and effective treatment plan tailored to each athlete's needs.


Enrolling in IV Therapy Academy, the leader in IV Nutritional Infusion Therapy education, you will obtain all the tools to launch an IV therapy business. Learning to administer IV therapy safely and effectively, particularly for recovery purposes, is paramount to your success.


Mastering IV infusion protocols will enable you to deliver customized treatments that optimize athletic performance and aid in recovery. IV therapy for a patient's recovery is a crucial aspect of our training, as it equips you with the knowledge to help clients bounce back quickly from intense physical activity or injury. After receiving a certification from IV Therapy Academy, you will have the skills to help athletes and other clients achieve maximum health. Contact us at IV Therapy Academy to learn more about starting a safe and lucrative IV therapy practice.


Enroll now in our Free Fundamentals IV Therapy Masterclass Training and register for the 14-day trial.

Marathon Athletes

References



Blog Posts

bottom of page